Hip Pads...

[Skittl1321]

My coach has ordered me to get a hip pad.  He wants aggressive loops, I don't want to end up in the hospital.

I lost my old padded shorts, and didn't like them anyway. 

Has anyone seen this sort of thing: https://www.extremesupply.com/MSR2011D3OHIPPAD.html  (It's made for motorcross). 
I'm guessing it has pretty great impact absorption based on the material and the sport it is designed for, but I'm wondering if it will be insanely thick.  If that is the price for 2 (it is unclear based on the ad, but they look left/right different and don't give you an option, plus a motocross person would need both), then I could easily sell one to a righty skater, and it becomes a very affordable option.  Additionally, if you look at the d3o on Seku's site-this is pretty well what it looks like they are slipping into the comprehsion pants.


The other option is skating safe pads.  One hip pad comes out to about $40.  They are the fall back option if no one has anything to say about the d3o above.  I know they are good- that is just A LOT of money.

[sarahspins]

My 2¢ but you do want pads on both sides.... I never expect to fall on my left since I land with my right leg, but it has happened enough that I usually wear both sides when I get padded up - without fail I will catch an edge when I am not expecting it and go splat on the unpadded side - probably because I am so focused on what I am doing I am not watching the ice as closely for ruts and holes and stuff

Anyways, my personal preference is homemade pads made from the "blue foam" camping pads.. it's closed cell foam, 1/2" thick, and it's really lightweight, and you can cut it with any normal scissors. REI (if you have one nearby?) sells a chair sized piece of the foam for $8 and it's more than enough to cut a set of hip pads from (as well as tailbone, palm, whatever you want).  I think you can get a regular length sleeping pad from somewhere like Walmart or Academy for about $15, but I think the quality of the REI foam is a little better.  Like waxel pads they can just be slipped into a fitted pair of pants or under tights and they will stay in place just fine.

I'm not sure about the size/usefulness of the MSR pads.  If you could find out the exact dimensions that would be helpful, but I would imagine they are not as large as you'd need.  Motocross pads are meant to protect the front and upper part of the iliac crest... they aren't quite used the same way a skater would use them (they go in the motocross pants in about the same orientation as front pockets would).  The pads in my 10yo's pants are barely bigger than my hands, and I don't have big hands.

[Skittl1321]

My 2¢ but you do want pads on both sides.... I never expect to fall on my left since I land with my right leg, but it has happened enough that I usually wear both sides when I get padded up - without fail I will catch an edge when I am not expecting it and go splat on the unpadded side - probably because I am so focused on what I am doing I am not watching the ice as closely for ruts and holes and stuff

This isn't for general falls, but specifically for loops.  I've fallen enough in the harness to know I'm only hitting my left hip.  (Although as soon as I get a hip pad I'm sure I will crash onto the knee!)  I can't transfer the good jumps out of the harness, because while coach isn't assisting the JUMP at all, he is assisting the falls.  Hence his requirement I get pads!

Thanks for the information about the motocross pads!

[Sk8Dreams]

A third option is to buy a sheet of Akton padding (same gel as SkatingSafe) and cut the shape and size you need.  Powder the edges with some cornstarch so they won't be sticky, and clean your knife/razor/scissors with rubbing alcohol.

[jjane45]

Search old posts for diy polymer pads. They are almost like skating safe.

[Skittl1321]

Yeah- I knew about the Akton pads, from previous discussion on skatingsafe pads.  They are more expensive though, since all I am looking for was one pad.  The Akton pads only seem worth it if you cut lots of pads from the material, as the squares are somewhat expensive.  (At least, I couldn't find a source for them that had the pad less than the cost of a skating safe hip pad- I only want one.  All the skaters at our rink who jump in pads just wear one.  These are so expensive anyway, I don't want more than I need.)

I really just want to gather opinions on the motocross pads.  I'm pretty settled on skating safe if those won't work (and it sounds like they will not.)

[jjane45]

Any local skater willing to share the cost?

[slcbelle]

Hi.  I'm a newbie here and actively researching padding.  Has anyone checked out silicone booty and hip enhancer products as a less expensive gel pad alternative?  Looks like the size might be a wee bit small for adults but these could be a great solution for smaller skaters.  Check it...

http://www.siliconebody.com/Clear-Oblong-Gel-Pads

[sampaguita]

I don't think there's any such thing as a hip pad that's too thick, only hip pads that are too heavy. Since the d3o pad is made for motocross, it should offer pretty good protection.

Why not use waxel pads by the way?

And regarding the silicone gel pad....does it have enough gel to protect from impact, even for smaller skaters?

[hopskipjump]

Waxel are cheap and easy to put on and take off - that is what dd has.  She doesn't like them though  - she likes shorts with pads built in.

[Skittl1321]

The silicone "booty enhancers" are probably not designed to take impact.  I'd worry they would burst.  I couldn't look at them though, because the filter on my computer marked the site as porn.

I really like the skating safe/akton gel pads though.  They are practically unnoticeable.  You can see the waxel pads when girls wear them under their pants.  Being able to see them prevents a lot of people from using pads.

[slcbelle]

The silicone "booty enhancers" are probably not designed to take impact.  I'd worry they would burst.  I couldn't look at them though, because the filter on my computer marked the site as porn.

I really like the skating safe/akton gel pads though.  They are practically unnoticeable.  You can see the waxel pads when girls wear them under their pants.  Being able to see them prevents a lot of people from using pads.

Point taken.  I just ordered the Skating Safe UltraCrash knee and hip pads.  Great thing is they are being shipped by Priority Mail so I should have them before my lessons start on Tuesday. 

[slcbelle]

Update:  Ultracrash pads are great.  I just I'd been wearing one over my posterior superior iliac spine (think backside hip bone close to spine) when I fell HARD yesterday while trying to do a Mazurka.  OMG.  I hit there first and then my head slammed into the ice.  Fortunately, my Ribcap head protection saved me from a concussion.  But, man, does my backside hurt.  Not so much when I'm moving about, I can still workout and do whatever I want, but I can only sleep on one side.  If I even so much as put pressure on that bone, YOWZA!  Ugh.  That's the price I pay for being an Ice Princess, right?   

[AgnesNitt]

that sounds like a bone bruise. Heat for the first 24 hours and cold after.
I had a bone bruise of the feet after being thrown from a horse. It took six months to heal.

[irenar5]

 Update:  Ultracrash pads are great.  I just I'd been wearing one over my posterior superior iliac spine (think backside hip bone close to spine) when I fell HARD yesterday while trying to do a Mazurka.  OMG.  I hit there first and then my head slammed into the ice.  Fortunately, my Ribcap head protection saved me from a concussion.  But, man, does my backside hurt.  Not so much when I'm moving about, I can still workout and do whatever I want, but I can only sleep on one side.  If I even so much as put pressure on that bone, YOWZA!  Ugh.  That's the price I pay for being an Ice Princess, right?  

So, even with the crash pad there is quite a bit of pain??  

[jjane45]

I'd been wearing one over my posterior superior iliac spine (think backside hip bone close to spine) when I fell HARD yesterday while trying to do a Mazurka. 

Never occurred to me to wear padding in that area... Glad to hear no major damage was done, especially that your head was well protected!

[slcbelle]

So, even with the crash pad there is quite a bit of pain??  

The pads cover the side of your hips.  Not the back of them.   

that sounds like a bone bruise. Heat for the first 24 hours and cold after.
I had a bone bruise of the feet after being thrown from a horse. It took six months to heal.

The first 24 hours have passed.  I guess I'll move on to an ice pack? 

[hopskipjump]

Dd likes these... http://www.tidewaterice.com/24_1[1].jpg  but it's funny, the spot not padded is where she last fell.  

[Sk8tmum]

Ultracrash makes a very effective tailbone pad.  Works great.  Learning triple jumps = tailbone + 2hip pads + 1 knee pad.   

[slcbelle]

Ultracrash makes a very effective tailbone pad.  Works great.  Learning triple jumps = tailbone + 2hip pads + 1 knee pad.   

I was thinking that covered the lower coccyx.  Does it go up higher and wider than, um, the crack of the booty?

[Sk8tmum]

I was thinking that covered the lower coccyx.  Does it go up higher and wider than, um, the crack of the booty?

It's sort of triangular and there are two sizes.  The "skinny" end points down.  The wider end goes up ... higher.  On my kid, the wider end covers the base of the spine.  A bit higher than than you describe above.  Love seeing the bafflement of skaters etc when there's a huge crash on a jump and my kid bounces up and skates away ... as the pads aren't visible under clothes, you can't tell why there is no reaction when body hits ice ...

[SkaterRyguy]

I came across a product online sometime ago called Dynowear, that had these awesome intergrated pants with knee, tailbone and hip padding all built it. The material didn't seem too fat or bulky...

The problem was that they don't actually make it for anyone above the age of 6! It's more of a learn to skate thing i guess, but I wonder if they would consider making larger sizes..

[miraclegro]

Cheap fix?  Go to Dick's sporting goods and get the stadium seat cushions and cut them up.  I bought 2 and made 2 hip pads and 1  butt pad.  I gave up my pride a few years ago, and know that I am not going to bust my tailbone now!